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I, SHELLA'BARGER.

Grain Dampener.

Paten 'red June 9, 1868.

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1. SHE LLABAARG ER, OF DECATUR, LLI OIS";

Lea atem va; 78,838, dated June 9, 1868.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DAMPENING GRAIN.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, I. SHELLABARGER, ofDecatur, county of Macon, and State' of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements imGrain-Dampeners; and I do hereby declare that 'the followingis a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, refereucebeing had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, making part of this specification,in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view, showing the grain-spout, the water-pipe, and-the meaiis by which it is dis-v charged into the revolving cylinder.

Figure 2 is an end view, showing the flange heaters.

Figure 3 is asectional view, showing the cylinder and heaters, the cylinder being placed at a slight angular fall, so as to insure the more ready discharge of the wheatinto the hopper.

I am well aware that inventions have I been patented whereby the grain was steamed as it passed from a v.

descending trbugh or chute to the hopper, from whence it issued to the mill. This is not the object of my invention,

My invention consists in combining with the ordinary grain-chute, arranged at an angle of forty-five.-

degrees, more or less, the mouth of which enters into a revolving cylinder, the chute being connected, by means of a suitable aperture at a short distance above its discharge, with the waterpipe, throughwhich flows a continuous stream, when the same is desirable, the quantity of flow being supplied by means of a tank, force-pump, or other suitable device, so regulated and adjusted that the degreeof moisture can readily be controlled by the uctionfof the operator. The water thrown in may be either cold or warm. I After the grain, moistened as it will be by the water, enters the cylindery the flow beinguninterrupted, action being given to the cylinder, which may be provided with lips 'or cups, the same being straight, a most positive agitation and-mixing or equalizing the dampness is caused. .The grain thus agitated and thoroughly mixed can be thus readily discharged into a hopper, where it should remain sometime before grinding, from which the same can be readily discharged into a hopper. All practical millers will recognize the truth of the assertion that the grain now ra'isedin the North and West is harder and. does not readily yield, not reducing easily the film to the-powder desired for the first quality of flour. I i I The object of my invention is simply, by the continuous stream of moisture which I introduce, accompanied by thetpositive and continuous agitation, which of necessity musttake-place'in its passage through my cylinder, to insure that degree of pliahilityin the grain that is so essential and desirable in producing the first quality of flour, and cause the same to readily yield to the action of the burr, producing'a perfect-ground flourwithout any film or sandy or gritty substances. I

A common conveyor, such as is usedin ordinary grist-mills, may be substituted for my cylinder, and prodnce the desired results.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its con struction and operation.

A is an ordinary cylinder, which may or may notbe provided with lips a a, which may be four or more in number, and may be arranged straight across the centre arm of the cylinder, so as to impel the grain with a forward motion towards the discharge-point, where it enters into the hopper, or arranged on the outer surface of the same. The cylinder may be constructed of metal or any other suitable mat'erial. It isalso provided with an opening, a, at the mouth of which there is connected a grain-chute, B. 1 G is a water-troughor tank, which may be supplied by means of a force-pump or continuous hose, 0. This water-tank, C, communicates by means of a small pipe or hose, 0', a short distance above the opening or mouthof the grain-chute or its entrance into the cylinder A; This cylinder communicates, by means of any ordinary discharge-pipe or chute, with any ordinary hopper E, where it remains until thedesirable degree of moisture is ascertained, and from whence it is carried to the burr by any convenient means.

The operation isas follows:

The tank 0 is filled with water bymea-ns of a hose or an ordinary force-pump,br.; it may be filled by an independent attachment to the supply-pipe of the boiler, the flow ofwater being controlled by means'of an ordinary stop-cock, or other equivalent device. From the tank 0, by means of 'the'pipe or hose, 0, the water is introduced into the grain-chute B) This grain-chute B is connected at its upper .end, Z1, with the ordinary grain-receptacle or elevating-spout. It will be observed that as the grain descends in the chute, 13,- before it enters the cylinder A, by means of the pipe 0, it meets the current of water, and is thus conveyed to the eylinder A, which being constantly agitated, and by meansof the lips a or projecting flanges on the interior side of the cylinder, the grain iscarried round or revolved until the same becomes thoroughly moistened or equally dampened by the water. From this cylinder it is dropped into a suitable hopper, E, from whence it is conveyed tothe burr, after it has been ascertained thatthe grain 'is thoroughly moistened and rendered sulliciently soft and pliable to produce the finely-ground flour which isrequired, and which the ordinary action of the iTurr does not produce on flinty hard wheat, its outer film and the interior ingredient when presented to the natural action of the burrnpt yielding entirely to itsgrinding force.

The ,great advantage of my invention consists simply in" the fact that I can so regulate the flow of water to the grain as to insure a regulartand equalizing permeating of the entire mass, and the means by which I can so regulate the same as to insure a flow of uniform moistened wheat to the burr fromthe supply'hopper, the same having passed through theactuatihgmylinder, and in such condition that one portion is not more moistened than the other.

Having thus fully, described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, i's- The combination and arrangement'o f the cylinder A, grain-chute B, and water-pipe a, when the whole is constructed so as to operate substantially as described. I I I In testimony whereof, I'have signed my name to this specification in'the'presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' I. SHELLABARGER. Witnesses:

, EDWIN Janus,

JOHN D. BLOon.- 

